Snowplow



March 2, 1948. DU P 2,436,956

SNOWPLOW Filed July 25, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 1' MN 7 6 A N h m w w 0 v D km 0 V Q v n m NQ 9% v v hm \M. v V \)|m v {ilk N m N& r 12 March 2, 1948. L. DU PRAS 2,436,956

SNOWPLOW Filed July 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EYI EHZ UF Louis Dupmzs Patented Mar. 2, 1948 I W H 's owPLow V Louis-Du Pm; Marduette ,--Mich.'

6 Application July 23,1945, Seriallqo. 606,546

This-invention relates to apparatus for removing snow and'other material from roadways, and" more specifically relates toga motor propelled snowplow including a diagonallydisposed 'moldboard for clearing roadwaysfjor forfollowing' other snowplows. It hashereto'fore been the practice,' in clearing snow from highways, to merely push the snow to the sides of the "road. Such road clearance causes the building'upof snow banks .on each side f, the road.v Furthermore, many places along the highways are subject to natural snow drifts alongside of the road. Whenever a snow bank is formed, either artificially or nat urally, alongside of a road, snow is apt to drift adjacentthe snow bank and cover the road. It is therefore important to remove these snow banks from the sides f of the road, and the device of this invention is adapted for suchremoval by distributing snow over a wide roadside area by propelling the snow at great distance from the road.

In the past, it has generally been attempted to reduce the height of the roadside deposit by operating the snowplow at high speed to toss the snow over a wide area but this expedient is not successful where .roadsideobstructions are frequently encountered or where deep or wet snow is cleared, particularly on grades or curves.

In prior, devices, various mechanical movement schemes involving feed screws, paddle wheels, moving blades and the likehave been used to effect wider scattering of the snow. One disadvantage of such schemes is that the structures are often "large and cumbersome and sometimes constitute obstructions preventing normal movement of snow across the moldboard. Also, it is generally diificult to transmit mechanical movements from a power source on the" vehicle to a movable element in an'adiustable moldboard.

It is then an object of this invention to provide novel apparatus for removing snow and other ma terials from roadways which is devoid of the above stated disadvantagesof priorart devices.

'A more specific object of this invention is toprovide a novel moldboard structure particularly useful on snowplows for effectively removing snow from roadways by blowing or pneumatically blast-' ing the scraped snow over wide areas of the roadside. i I v e A more specific object of this invention is to provide a snowplow including a moldboard which involves a novel'air pressure manifold structure which is effective to blow a controlled blast of air at a small angle to the face of the moldboard soas to move snow substantially along the faceof the moldboard toward the trailing edge so as to blow the snow laterally of the vehicle and scatterit over a wide roadside area, thus eliminating. the formations of high snow banks.

Other-objects and advantages of this invention Claims. (01, 37- 42) fromJthe following detailed description ofthe annexed'sheets of drawings which disclose'a preferredembodim'ent or the invention.

On the drawings: I Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a'snowplow embodying the novel features of this invention, illustrating the manner in which the moldboard of the snowplow is carried by a truck;

.Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the truck and moldboard shown in Figure l;

, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

taken through one of the'three manifolds illustrated in Figures'l'and 2, and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line v-v of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, numeral I0 denotes, generally,

a motor truck having a drivers cab I I and a platform back I2. An auxiliary motor I3 and compressor I4 driven thereby are mounted on the platform back I2.

Themain chassis of themotor truck l0 carries a superstructure extending upwardly in front cutter of which the present application is an,

improvement, which sheave, however, forms no part of the present invention.

As best shown in Figure 1, the main frame of the motor truck I0 carries near the front end thereof a bracket 20to which is swivelled a platform 2| extending over the front wheel of the truck. The platform ZI- may have an opening in thecentral portion thereof for allowing the top of the Wheel to extend above the platform.

The outer end of the platform 2| has two downwardly extending arms 23 having bosses 24 on the ends thereof. One or both arms 23 can be provided with a housing portion 25 extending downwardly therefrom below its boss 24 for ,re-

ceiving the shank 26 of a wheel mounting 21-- carrying a supporting wheel 28.

The platform 2| can thus be held in any de sired spaced relation from the ground by ad'- justing the position of the shank 26 in the housing 25. The wheel 28 will hold the outer end of the platform 2| in the'desired horizontal position.

A moldboard or cutter 30 is formed of com paratively light weight sheet metal and has a front face adapted to scoop up or sweep snow.

The moldboard is preferably arcuate in shape and flared outwardly as illustrated although it may b fiat orcurved or of other shapes "as de'-' sired.

, A p H g p Apluralityof-manifolds, for example, three of e n evpeitenw fimee sk l e i l-t ew. m isn t q num al fl. f e d new;

rigidly mounted on the rear face of the moldboard. Air under pressure is fed to these manifolds by means :of @the motor driven compressor l4 which .ieeds rain under pressure Etc :mani fold l5, thence through conduits 36, 31 and 38 to manifolds 3|, 32 and 33 respectively. Suitable' supporting rods 35 and 39 are provided for manie folds 3i and 32, respectively.

As shown in Figure 1, wherein manifold32 shown in dotted lines since it is mounted on the rear of the moldboard, a plurality of opening-s,

such as 40 to 43 inclusive, are provided :Qnithe moldboard for allowing {communication between the manifold and front su ace or f :01 the oldb'oard and lth n'll h which air under pressureis blown "for leimelliiiehsn w anothe mat rial from suchface. I

.As .best .shown in ..Ffigure ,3 the .constru ticn ..of the three manimnsietaz and}? mavbeidmfical. Furthermore the elongated manifolds ar p ed .i space relationship substantially parallel to each other and to the roadway surface. It will be .UHQQ TSCOQQMQf 'Q0ll11$, tlfi9;f;all othennumber ..of manifolds maybe provided and maybe spaced diiferentlydfso.desired, or .perap only one large manifold may :be arsed. However :b p o rl .D s.it 'ouiii .nlurali y of manifolds more effective removalcf snow from thelface. of thelmoldboardlis obtained The novel internal construction ofieach oifthe manifolds is. best illustrated .J in Fi ures A land 5 showing, forexample, manifold 32'. .A plurality of baffle 3 plates, .-:such ..as 45 A6 I are ,provided, one for. each openin andar ri i ly secur dlto theirear surfaceofmoldboa id. 3,ll',; beine disposed at a small angle relative to saidsurface so as t0.direct. air .und,er pressure at asmall angle to. the front surface ,o'f the..rnoldboardina.direction towards the trailing ..edge thereof so as .,to eject ..or blow :SHOW :suhs'tan-tially parallel. to :the face of ,the :moldhoard laterally of the direction of movement ofitheetruck.

'Dampers,..such .as ..50 .and jacent each of ..the names .andiha e-swingable arcuate edges having tshapesecorrespond" g .with the shape of the rear suriaee l of v.the.7rnolggllooarcl thereby .being adapted ..to prevent ..the ,flow of compressed 1 air through Z-the opemngs ,rwhen the dampersrare; in ..the closed .position. {I'he rpther ends l of .theidampersfiare integrally secured. i;o.i1

sleeves :6 fisand-fifiswhich a efl -J" urna11e d about x ogis such as and unsecur d to ..the ,manifoldwa l adjacent the inwardly .lprojecting Tends 9f the baflle plates. Crank arms such 481$ ;59 and- 60, are also rigidly securedetossleevesrfiiandzfifiand fixed with respect eto dampers .5 U -.a nd l, ;respectively,.-the ,other ends; of twhichsarmsgara pivotallysecured torsleeves-Jil atz. The pivotal connections between qcran-kiarms-59; and *BO- and sleeves,- 6 I Hand 262 rare madeesumoieI-itly; loose ":in thevertical.v direction ofEigureAtopermivmoyement(of rode53 iwithoutztendin :deform'baflles 45,and.46. .These.sleevesaarel-r idlyrsecured spaced.-relationshiptto'rod fl by .screws-glii randgfl.

respectively. Rod 53 is slidably mounted rackets such -.-as 54 and 5 5 rigidly viiige d t othe walLof the m an ifold. ..s r etfi havin -Queens abutting .aeainst flbliacketj l alidvthe other .end confined by anutfil ..screw.,t reade eemmilfi biasesithe, rod'53' to the left, gas;i ll us trated,..that

to -the closed poslticn of the dampers.

" In '-operation, when a predetermined amount of air pressure isbuilt up in the manifold, per- .5 l are-p ovid d .a

4 of spring 58 the dampers are opened to a degree which is proportional to the pressure, therefore llowin a r a o r 'zund eressu to s throughltheopenings 4n .to43; inclusive at an 5 angle determined by the slope of the baflle plates 190 iblow snow away from the front surface of the .inqldboard. By unscrewing a threaded cap 58 so as to gain .QQGfifiSwQOtZQQt 51 such nut may be screwed so as to place any desired tension on spring 56 so etc-adjust =the value of air pressure necessary for qpening the dampers. Thus the air blast may be effectively and simply controlled so as to ..mee ran es condition euceuntered,,.s q a ifiereut wetness ..Q .dilierent h i t snpwletr.

Whil h momma-rd ha been ..il us rat a heingdispcsed iee nallypnthe idep the ck i should be "ndsr t o'd that tm be d p sed 2c n from 401i th t ucka 1 Also. th m l part inste d for l s arcuate-sh ped ay b flatc ma b i eshe o a Qt ershap d sired,

: will the seen tha av provided a 2:; ificient ..andil ont lled j neuz-hati e P- erated ,snowplow' for effecting blowing of .snow over .a .yvide side ,area of the .roadway thereby r ntin .ithel uild ue.up no fsncwba k 11 4311 aware manychanges may be made and numerous details of construction may .be varie .thmueha wid anee wit ou de in rom th pr ncip o th i vent on. a I. ther o e do no m a ml niting the p t n granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by v.35 the prionart.

'Iclai esmy nren ie In reombinet o 3 sn w l w mo e havin miura t o ..menit ld ..m u in eas re a ionship on t ite eurfe t o h e -,o sa dimddbea inean ured-at places corresponding with thepos ons ofsaid manifold commu i a h ewith. ns e eposed ha e n tamee sin a d mani ld a v jacent said apertnres ,ior directing compressed air developed in said manifolds sulostantially lone .t e v: a e o a d ma if ds. and d p r meensld en sed. in-ltlia h. o -ai flow z rqms i mani o d tt s i a ertur .t -i sntro th re saeeiotain reihroueh.

-2c n ce a nati a.- ee w i inqld td ha urea i ralityp uei udin lyee e dine mfolds mount d on. theree ur ace th re r Pl elit o .-ane t e b in forme on ai l boardrt corre p ndrtolther os tiqna f. each o ai manifold a pm t i etiue th ith each of saidma ifolds. containing an angu1 ar1y dispose hem p at :ad ac nteachiape turea da damper i r ta elql e ql te in eac teeth 0f air o if oms i .e e1?e b 20 a -ap rtdirectaa. c n elled blast 10f p irlat .a

small angle with the face of said moldboard.

23. :A:moldboardxhavingamountedson the rear tending-manifoldsin-space'd parallelrelationship, a; pluralitwof apertures in said moldboard communicating with each offlsaid manifolds'an angu i larlyexterrrlir g baffle "plate in said ma nifold adjacent each aperture, a plurality of dampers in said manifold, 'one for "each aperturetdcontrol the blast "of air ensuing fromi the manifold and spring biased meanstending' to move all of said ing'openableupon attainmentof apredetermined surface thereotapluralityof longitudinal-1y .ex-

dampers totth'e closed? position, said dampers beattainment-iotapredetermined v v pendingfruponi:thesadjnstment. IisESHiQ sspring air pressure in said manifold that overcomes the action of said spring biased means.

4. A snowplow moldboard having mounted cross-wise on the rear surface thereof a p a y of elongated manifolds arranged in spaced parallel relationship, a plurality of holes extending through said moldboard communicating with each of said manifolds, a. plurality of angularly disposed bafiie plates in said manifold, each disposed adjacent the periphery of one of said holes, a damper pivotally mounted adjacent the inwardly projecting end portion of each of said baflle plates, a longitudinally extending rod in each manifold operatively fastened to all of the damp ers, and adjustable spring means tending to move said rod to maintain said dampers in theclosed position, said dampersbelng openable upon the' means.

5. In combination with a traction vehicle, a moldboard mounted diagonally of said vehicle in position for scraping the surface over which said vehicle travels, manifold means mounted on the rear surface of said moldboard, apertures in said moldboard communicating with said manifold means, and spring biased damper means contained within said manifold means to normally block communication through said apertures to the front surface of said moldboard and to allow free communication therethrough only upon attainment of a predetermined air pressure in said manifold means to direct a fluid blast along the surface of the moldboard in the direction normally travelled by material being scraped thereby.

6. In combination with a traction vehicle, a moldboard mounted diagonally of said vehicle in a position for scraping the surface over which said vehicle travels, a plurality of manifolds mounted on the rear of said moldboard, arranged in substantially parallel, spaced relationship with each other and with the surface of the roadway, a plurality of apertures extending through said moldboard in communication with each of said manifolds, spring-biased damper means disposed in each manifold and tending to close communication with the front surface of said moldboard through said apertures, and bafiies mounted in said manifold to direct a blast of air substantially along the front surface of the moldboard in the direction of travel of material scraped off thereby, said damper means being openable only upon attainment of a predetermined air pressure sufiicient to overcome the bias of said spring biased damper means.

7. In combination with a traction vehicle, a moldboard mounted diagonally of said vehicle in position for scraping the surface over which said vehicle travels, a plurality of manifolds mounted on the rear of said moldboard, arranged in substantially parallel, spaced relationship with each other and which the surface of the roadway, a plurality of apertures extending through said moldboard in communication with each of said manifolds, a plurality of bafiie plates in each of said manifolds, each baffle plate being disposed so as to direct a blast of air from said manifold angularly through the corresponding aperture, a

'pressurezzde communicating with each of said manifolds,v

means including damper means inside, each ,of said manifolds for directing-a"blastpf airalong the snow engaging surface;,pf-;-saidgzmoldboard V uponitheattainment of a; predetermined air presi .Eingthemflfli iig-delivery'means on said vehicle for supplying air ,-iand-=air compressor and under pressure to said manifolds.

9. A snowplow comprising a traction vehicle, a snowplow moldboard mounted diagonally of the vehicle, said moldboard having mounted on I the rear thereof a plurality of elongated manidamper pivotally mounted adjacent each bafile plate, and spring operated means for normally moving said dampers to close communication through said apertures, the bias of said spring opfolds spaced in substantially parallel relationship with each other and with the surface of the roadway which said moldboard is to scrape, a pluralityof holes extending through said moldboard and communicating with each of said manifolds, baflle plates in each of said manifolds disposed angularly adjacent the periphery of said holes for directing a blast of air substantially along the snow engaging surface thereof j toward the trailing edge of said moldboard, a

damper for each of said holes and being contained within the manifold, and spring biased operating means for normally closing all of said dampers simultaneously to close communication through said holes, the bias of said spring biased operating means being overcome by attainment of a predetermined air pressure in said manifolds.

10. A snowplow comprising a traction vehicle, a snowplow moldboard mounted diagonally of the vehicle, said moldboard having mounted on the rear thereof a plurality of elongated manifolds, paced in substantially parallel relationship with each other and with the surface of the roadway which said moldboard is to scrape, a plurality of holes extending through said moldboard and communicating with each of said manifolds, bafile plates in each of said manifolds, disposed angularly adjacent the periphery of said holes for directing a blast of air along the snow engaging surface thereof towards the trailing edge of said moldboard, a damper pivotally mounted adjacent each of said baflie plates to control the passage of air through said holes, spring operated means for simultaneously moving all of said'baflie plates to a position to block passage of air through said holes, the bias of said spring operated means being overcome in proportion to the air pressure developed in the manifold to proportionally open the dampers to allow a blast of air to be blown The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 713,787 McKone Nov. 18, 1902 1,641,181 Mahon Sept. 6, 1927 2,222,437 Lykken Nov. 19, 1940 

